Transom-lifter



(No Model.)

J. F. WOLLENSAK.

TRANSOM LIPTBR.

Patented Apr. 24, 1888.

Unirse STATES PATENT Ormea.

JOHN F. IOIJLENSAK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TRANSOiVI-LIFTER.

SPECIFICATION 'forming part of Letters Patent No. 381,743x dated April 24, l1888.

Application tiled Janusry 14, 1888. Serial No. 200.763. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, JOHN F. WoLLENsAK, a citizen ofthe United States, residing atChicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TransoinLifters, of which the following is a specification.

The object of myinvention is to construct a simple and compact transom-lifter having long grooved stationary guiding pieces or plates; and my invention consists in the features and details of construction, hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a' perspective view of the transom-lifter attached to a doorjamb; Fig. 2, agfront elevation of the lifterdetached from the jamb; Fig. 3, a side elevation ofthe same; Fig. 4, atransverse section in the line x of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 5, a transverse section in the liney y of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

A is the lower guiding-plate; a, a vertical groove or depression therein; a', iianges at the ends of the plate having screw-holes therein; a2, raised flanges at the edges thereof; B, the upper guiding -plate; b, a vertical groove therein; b, fia'nges at the ends of the plate; b2, raised fianges at the edges thereof; b3, a pro jection at the lower end of the plate B, through which the liftingrod passes; C, afastening device; c, a thumb-screw used therewith; c', a raised cylindrical portion thereof; D, Va headblock or sliding piece; d, a ring or hook thereon; 5 E, a spiral spring passing over the upper portion of the lifting-rod; G, the lifting-arm, and H the bracket attached to the transom.

In constructing my improved transom-lifter I make a guiding-plate, A. This plate is provided with a groove or channel extending vertically through its length, in which groove the lifting-rod slides and by which it is partially surrounded. At each end of this plate are flanges having screw-holes to attach the plate to the jamb, though the anges may be dispensed with and lscrew-holes provided in the bottom of the groove or channel. At the sides of this plate are flanges raised outward from the doorjamb, affording space for the free sliding of the fastening device C and headblock D as these parts move up and down in operating the lifter. The upper guideplate may be the same in form as the one above described,` but preferably has in addition a projectionfba, at or near its lower' end,'provided with a hole through which the lifting-rod passes. This projection acts both as a guide for the rod'and as a support for a spiral spring which incloses the upper portion of the liftingrod and rests upon the projection. I next make a fastening device. (Shown more particularlyin the sectional view given in Fig. 5.) This fastening device passes over and behind the raised flanges ci?, so as to slide freely. It is also shaped to fit into the groove in the face of the plate and has an elongated neck, into and through which the shank ofa thumbscrew passes to bind upon the plate and hold the fastener in any desired position. Extending up from the side of this neck is araised eylindrical portion, c', into which the lower end of the lifting-redis screwed or otherwise securely fastened. I then construct what I term a head-block. (Shown particularly in Fig. 4.) This is similar in cross-section to the fastening device, having the shape necessary to tit the groove in the guide-plate and passing over and behind the fianged edges thereof. It hasno thumb-screw, however, butis provided with a ring or eye to enable the lifting-arm to be attached thereto, and has a screw-threaded hole in its under side into which the upper end of the lifting-rod is secured. Thelifting-arm and bracket used in connection with this lifter being well known, no description of these parts is requisite. The lifting-rod is merely a rod of metal of the desired length, having screwthreads at each end to fasten the same to the fastening device and sliding head -block, though, of course, other means than screwthreads may be employed to fasten the rod to the fastening device and head-block.

The mode of operating my improved transom-lifter after the same has been constructed as above described is as follows: The thumbscrew,being released and shoved upward, carries with it the fastening device, and consequently the lifting-rod and head-block. The latter, by means of its connection with the lifting-arm, pushes upon it and opens the transom. 4The thumb-screw may then be screwed in, and, bearing upon the surface of the plate, pulls the fastening device away from the jamb and against the under sides ofthe guide-plate,

IOO

and the Whole is thus held firmly in position. Vhen it is desired to close the transom, the thumb-screw may be again released and pulled downward, carrying with it the fastening device, lifting-rod, head-block, and lifting-arm7 thus Closing the transom.

Although I have described and shown but one forni of guiding-plate, it is not my intention to limit myself strictly thereto; but as I consider the essence of myinvention to consist in the construction of an externally grooved or channeled and outwardly-flanged stationary guide-plate, it is obvious that any suehplate Will fall within iny invention whether the grooves be round, square, or otherwise shaped.

In the downward movement of the headblock itstrikes u pon the spiral spring E, placed upon the projection b3 of the upper guide-plate, and its fall being softened thereby,any break ing of glass by a too sudden lowering or accidental fall is prevented.

That I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a transomdifter, an eXternally-grooved and outwardly-flanged stationary guide-plate for guiding the lifting-rod, substantially as de scribed.

2. In a transonrlifter, the combination of externally-grooved and outwardly-flanged stationary guide-plates for the upper and lower 3o ends of the lifting-rod, a fastening device sliding upon the lower plate and adapted to receive the lower end of the lifting-rod, a headblock sliding upon the upperplate and adapted to be secured to the upper end of the rod, and 35 the lilting-rod connecting,r the fastening device and head-block, substantially as described.

3. In a transom-lifter, the combination of externallygrooved and outwardly-flanged stationary guide-plates for the upper and lower lo ends of thelifting-rod, the upper plate having a project-ion at or near its lower end through which the rod may pass, a fastening device sliding upon the lower plate and adapted to receive the lowerendof the lifting-rod, a headblock sliding upon the upper plate and adapted to be secured to the upper end of the rod, a lifting-rod connecting the fastening device and headAbloek, a bracket attached to the transom, and a lifting-arm connecting the head-block, 5o and bracket, substantially as described.

J OHN F. VOLLENSAK.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM E. GILL, GEORGE S. Parson. 

